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Picasso, Matisse and Rodin set to leave New Zealand shores soon

Media Release

The opportunity to see masterpieces by artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Rodin is coming to an end as the major exhibition The Body Laid Bare: Masterpieces from Tate closes on Sunday 16 July at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

Exhibition visitors have enjoyed seeing original painting, sculpture and photography by key artists from the Victorian period, Impressionism, Surrealism, Modernism, and the contemporary era.

Exceptionally, Auckland Art Gallery presents masterpieces from all four Tate Museums together under one roof – providing an experience that’s not normally seen, even in England.

The exhibition will not be extended as it leaves for Seoul, South Korea, after closing in Auckland in July.

Auckland Art Gallery Director Rhana Devenport says it has been a tremendous pleasure to share these extraordinary artworks with the New Zealand public.

‘Visitors have been very enthusiastic about the exhibition. In particular the presentation of Rodin’s The Kiss has offered a breath-taking moment for many.

‘It would be a missed opportunity to not experience The Body Laid Bare. These extremely rare works won’t be seen in New Zealand this way again,’ she says.

One exhibition visitor from Napier said ‘The Kiss is perfection. The rest are superb – so honoured.’

Another from Kaeo said it is a “fantastic rare opportunity to see such beautiful masterpieces!”

While others said ‘it was a thought-provoking collection that really opens your eyes to the human body in its organic beauty,’ and ‘listen closely to the inter-generational banter in the room for an interesting view of changing attitudes to the body’.

Exhibition entry is $23 for adults or $18 for concession, while Gallery Members and children 12 and under are free. Entry includes a visitor brochure, pop-up tours at 1pm and 3pm daily and discounted parking on the weekend at the Victoria St East carpark on weekends.

The major exhibition tells the story of the nude in Western art over the last two centuries.

More than 100 artworks from Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St. Ives trace artists’ captivation with the human body.

The Gallery has complemented the exhibition with an array of activities and events including figure drawing, free films, talks and tours, which will continue until closing day.